Meet Bihar’s richest man with Rs 35,000 cr internet value, now lives in UK – had 9 failed ventures – Way of life Information

Industrialist Anil Agarwal, Founder and Chairman of Vedanta Group, has reaffirmed his place as Bihar’s richest particular person. His household’s wealth has been reported at Rs 35,000cr crore, in line with Forbes July 2025 record, inserting him amongst India’s most influential enterprise figures. He additionally ranks on the 16^th place within the prime 100 of the M3M Hurun India Rich List 2025 and 4^th amongst non-Resident India wealth creators globally.

As per the data shared on his LinkedIn profile, he left his hometown at age 19 with primary belongings and ambition. With a tiffin field and bedding, Agarwal travelled to Mumbai. He was decided to construct a enterprise profession for himself in India’s industrial capital. In his preliminary years, he tried his luck with 9 totally different enterprise ventures, however all of them failed, leaving him struggling to make ends meet. His solely dream was to construct an organization of his personal. Agarwal by no means gave up and later went forward to determine the Vedanta Group in 1976.

From modest beginnings to world enlargement

Born in Patna on January 24, 1954, Agarwal grew up in a Marwadi household, and his formal education ended at Miller college within the metropolis due to cash constraints. Agarwal’s early skilled journey began with the scrap steel commerce throughout the mid-Nineteen Seventies, giving him direct publicity to industrial provide cycles and commodity pricing. He later expanded into manufacturing by means of Sterlite Industries in 1986. He was initially producing jelly-filled cables. Sterlite later established India’s first private-sector copper smelter and refinery in 1993, marking Agarwal’s first main industrial breakthrough.

A vital milestone got here in 2001, when it acquired a controlling stake in Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO), adopted by a majority shareholding in Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL). These strategic takeovers elevated his affect in India’s aluminium and zinc markets and earned him the title of ‘’steel king’’ contained in the enterprise circles.

Vedanta at present operates throughout a diversified portfolio together with zinc, copper, aluminium, silver, energy, nickel, oil & gasoline and iron & metal. Under Agarwal’s management, the group additional expanded from an Indian miner into a world pure sources powerhouse. The firm is increasing its footprint in semiconductors and show glass manufacturing, aligning with India’s push in the direction of electronics self-reliance.

As per Hurun, Bihar has 6 entrants featured on this yr’s rating, and it’s up from 4 beforehand.

Agarwal’s philanthropy work

Agarwal has pledged 75% of his wealth for social affect initiatives and is a signatory of The Giving Pledge, becoming a member of world philanthropists dedicated to giving freely most of their fortune. His flagship venture, Nand Ghar, goals to remodel Anganwadi to help youngster malnutrition, empower girls by means of talent improvement and enhance training.

He additionally invests closely in grassroots sports activities infrastructure and actively mentors younger entrepreneurs. He typically advises youth to “be humble, be fearless.”